In a statement, its secretary Ikmalrudin Ishak said state assembly speaker Abdullah Ya’kub had written a letter to the EC yesterday on the unexpected vacancy of the seat following the death of its incumbent, Dr Mohd Yusnan Yusof.

He said based on the Emergency proclamation from Jan 11 to Aug 1 and Section 13 of the Emergency Ordinance (Essential Powers) 2021, the constitutional provisions of any state regarding by-elections have no effect throughout the emergency.

“Under Article 46(5) of the Kelantan State Constitution, a vacant state assembly seat must be filled within 60 days from the date it becomes vacant,” he said.

“If the unexpected vacancy occurs at a time within two years before the state assembly is dissolved, based on Clause (3), there is no need to fill the vacancy unless the speaker notifies the EC otherwise in writing.”

Ikmalrudin said the speaker had informed the EC that there was no need to fill the vacancy, meaning that there would be no by-election for the state seat.

Yusnan died of a heart attack at his home in Melor on April 30.

He held the state seat for two terms after winning it in the last two general elections as a PAS candidate.